TCD MS 10515 folio 26v
Sunday: March 19th 1916: Basra We hear that for the present we are likely to remain at Basra as a reserve Brigade and will be employed, while in reserve, at the construction of embarkments for a railway. It seems rather waste of material to use fighting troops for cooly work, but as the attack up country is for the present in abeyance, I suppose they can find no more useful employment for us. The night broke with thunder, lightening, a storm of wind and torrents of rain. Until well into the night I had to cling firmly to my tent pole in order to keep a roof over my head. Tomorrow the camp will be an ocean of sticky clay.